http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/ Tim King on French politics Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:49:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-22122 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:32:51 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-22122 I too clocked Gopnick's New Yorker piece - maybe the best post-election summary of Sarko I've seen (and also reassuring that there are still Americans that understand Europe). Rather more irreverent, but equally insightful, SudOuest cartooned him as the Loony Toons Roadrunner - tearing across the landscape in a blur of dust and noise - "bip-bip, bip-bip...". Frantic activity, vaguely ridiculous and if I remember the movies rightly, frequently outwitted by events. Hmmm. I too clocked Gopnick’s New Yorker piece - maybe the best post-election summary of Sarko I’ve seen (and also reassuring that there are still Americans that understand Europe). Rather more irreverent, but equally insightful, SudOuest cartooned him as the Loony Toons Roadrunner - tearing across the landscape in a blur of dust and noise - “bip-bip, bip-bip…”. Frantic activity, vaguely ridiculous and if I remember the movies rightly, frequently outwitted by events. Hmmm.

]]> http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21671 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:20:21 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21671 The 40% abstention rate by voters in the second round of the election of 'députés' could be interpreted in several ways: they didn't bother to turn out because they were sure of a right-wing landslide; they didn't want to give Sarkozy too high a majority in the Chambre des Députés; they had changed their minds about giving him overall support; they wanted to enjoy a weekend eating with their families at their 'résidence secondaire'. The 40% abstention rate by voters in the second round of the election of ‘députés’ could be interpreted in several ways: they didn’t bother to turn out because they were sure of a right-wing landslide; they didn’t want to give Sarkozy too high a majority in the Chambre des Députés; they had changed their minds about giving him overall support; they wanted to enjoy a weekend eating with their families at their ‘résidence secondaire’.

]]> http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21667 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:07:01 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21667 No, in fact I don't want Sarkozy to fail - although unfortunately I think the chances are high that he will fail to do more than window-dressing reforms. Despite his amazing energy and his enormous power as a communicator, the cards are stacked against him - on the one side debt, social security deficit, balance of payments, slow growth, on the other a population who are mostly comfortably off, well-served in terms of health care, pensions, benefits and and so who may not wish their carefully structured lives to be shaken about. I certainly do not think the Socialist alternative would have been/would be any better, and anyway that is beside the point: Royal is where she is and Sarkozy is here. As you so rightly say, God help us if Sarkozy does fail. No, in fact I don’t want Sarkozy to fail - although unfortunately I think the chances are high that he will fail to do more than window-dressing reforms. Despite his amazing energy and his enormous power as a communicator, the cards are stacked against him - on the one side debt, social security deficit, balance of payments, slow growth, on the other a population who are mostly comfortably off, well-served in terms of health care, pensions, benefits and and so who may not wish their carefully structured lives to be shaken about. I certainly do not think the Socialist alternative would have been/would be any better, and anyway that is beside the point: Royal is where she is and Sarkozy is here. As you so rightly say, God help us if Sarkozy does fail.

]]> http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21653 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:31:09 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-human-bomb/#comment-21653 Sounds as if you really want Sarko to fail. God help us if he does, with the French Socialists in the state they are in! Their policies, or rather Mme Royal's, did not convince in May: who is to unite the Party so they can get their act together, in your view? Sounds as if you really want Sarko to fail. God help us if he does, with the French Socialists in the state they are in! Their policies, or rather Mme Royal’s, did not convince in May: who is to unite the Party so they can get their act together, in your view?

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